Laws of Relating
Love and Boundaries – Part 1

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Our scripture reading today paints a picture of love and boundaries. We need both concepts as we relate to our relations. Love is to be lived out with the model of God Himself in our minds. Our key verse tells us to be imitators of God, living a life of love. We must remember God’s love is not romantic, but practical: “For God so loved the word that He gave!” If we are going to imitate God’s love we must worry less about the feelings in a relationship and more about the behaviors in the relationship! We must act out our love to those we are related to even when the feelings are not evident.

The second part of this is about boundaries. The scripture reminds us in verse seven of chapter five that we are not to be partners with some people. Do you have any relatives that cross over boundary lines into your personal space? Do they want to get involved with issues that you feel are inappropriate? There is a toxic line in which relatives can move from being a blessing to being bothersome! We must identify that line for ourselves and for them. We must let them know that they must stop at the line! When we draw that line, we must do it with love, not a mean spirit. Jesus drew these lines and so must we. (Continued).